Five Defensive Standouts in Kentucky to Watch

With week four of high school football action quickly approaching, it's time to look back at some of the most impactful prospects from all across the Bluegrass State that made their presence known on the field in week three of competition. Without any further ado, here's my list of five highly impactful defensive standouts in Kentucky to keep an eye on as the season progresses.    At the top of my list of notable standouts is [player_tooltip player_id='287574' first='Avery' last='Bodner'], a 6-foot-0, 175-pound athlete at Boyle County High School. Bodner has made his presence known with the Rebels, collecting a total of 25 tackles, including 14 solo stops, 11 assisted takedowns and 1.5 tackles for loss. Bodner also recorded one fumble recovery and one interception. Bodner impresses me with his footwork, versatility and execution off the snap, showcasing excellent toughness, stopping power and the ability to both disrupt offensive production and apply heavy pressure on the quarterback.    I am additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='952644' first='Jerod' last='Smith'], a 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive lineman at Corbin High School. Smith has proven himself as one of the more dangerous defensive weapons on the Red Hounds roster, picking up 18 total tackles, including 13 solo stops, five assisted takedowns, five tackles for loss and three sacks in two games. What I like about Smith is his size, speed and overall strength, creating disorganization among the offensive line with his physicality and overwhelming force. I also like how Smith escapes the offensive line with his precise movement and makes commanding stops in crucial moments.    Claiming the number three spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='381927' first='Parker' last='Chaney'], a 6-foot-0, 180-pound athlete at Lexington Christian Academy. Chaney has been explosive for the Eagles on the defensive side of the ball, recording 14 total tackles, including 12 solo stops and two assisted takedowns. Parker has also hauled in two interceptions for a gain of five yards. Chaney makes a difference due to his size, speed and ability to read the offense like a book. I'm additionally fond of how Chaney utilizes his movement and footwork to make tackles and disrupt receivers down the stretch. Chaney has showcased strong coverage on receivers, using bursts of speed to get in front of passes and make quick stops.    Another skilled player to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='381906' first='Wick' last='Dotson'], a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back at Bowling Green High School. Dotson has been highly impactful for the Purples this season, collecting 19 total tackles, including eight solo stops and 11 assisted takedowns. Dotson also picked up an interception for a gain of 20 yards. In addition to great execution off the snap, what I like about Dotson is his impressive size and electric speed down the stretch, blasting receivers and getting in front of the ball with his sudden movement. Dotson has additionally proved he can intercept the quarterback from anywhere on the field as well as breakup passes in the backfield.    Coming in at number five on my list of standouts is [player_tooltip player_id='408042' first='Jahvon' last='Frazier'], a 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive lineman at Bryan Station High School. Frazier has made a considerable difference for the Defenders this season, picking up 19 total tackles, including 16 solo stops, three assisted takedowns, three tackles for loss and one sack. With solid movement and quick execution off the snap, Frazier hits the offense hard, muscling past the offensive line to get to playmakers and stop the quick rush. I also like how Frazier utilizes his strength to bully the offense, apply pressure and quickly get to the quarterback.

With week four of high school football action quickly approaching, it's time to look back at some of the most impactful prospects from all across the Bluegrass State that made their presence known on the field in week three of competition. Without any further ado, here's my list of five highly impactful defensive standouts in Kentucky to keep an eye on as the season progresses.